We want to get to know you more to help improve our service. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our survey here. Thank you! test2

This film is part of Rentals

This film is certified

infrequent racist language, mild bad language, sex references, violence

I accept this guidance

Title of error

See Help

Title of error

See Help

Race

The remarkable story of Jesse Owens, the grandson of a slave whose athletic feats defied Nazi ideology at the 1936 Olympics.

Biopic 2016 135 mins

Director: Stephen Hopkins

Watch trailer Rent for £3.50

Overview

This remarkable story – brought to the big screen for the first time – follows the struggles of Jesse Owens, the grandson of a US-enslaved African, who went on to participate in the 1936 Olympics held in Nazi Germany. There, his inspirational performances and conduct threw down a defiant rebuke to the prevalent view of Aryan supremacy, while also highlighting his own country’s history of racial injustice.

Relative unknown Stephan James was thrust into the lead role as Owens following John Boyega’s last-minute switch to the cast of Star Wars, but he delivers a winning performance that propels this pleasingly dynamic sports movie. Director Stephen Hopkins (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers) ensures the narrative proceeds at a purposeful pace, while giving equal attention to the human, social and political dimensions of a story that became a defining moment in 20th-century history.

Director

Stephen Hopkins

Featuring

Stephan James , Jason Sudeikis and Jeremy Irons

Genres

Biopic and Sport

Certificate

infrequent racist language, mild bad language, sex references, violence

Country

Canada

Language

English

Accessibility

Rent for £4.50

A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things

Biopic 2024 88 mins Director: Mark Cousins

A striking portrait of an artist deserving of greater recognition, directed by Mark Cousins (A Story of Film).

Rent for £3.50

Jackie Jackie

Biopic 2017 100 mins Director: Pablo Larraín

Natalie Portman is exceptional as the iconic First Lady who has to quickly adjust to the world-shaking trauma of her husband’s assassination.

Rent for £3.50

I, Tonya I, Tonya

Biopic 2017 120 mins Director: Craig Gillespie

Athlete. Champion. Villain. Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) played them all…

Rent for £4.50

Dark Waters Dark Waters

Biopic 2019 126 mins Director: Todd Haynes

Mark Ruffalo plays an attorney trying to uncover the corporate scandal of a chemical company poisoning a local community, in this searching ecological drama from Todd Haynes (Safe, Carol).

Rent for £3.50

Tracks Tracks

Biopic 2014 113 mins Director: John Curran

Mia Wasikowska stars in this inspirational true story about one woman’s extraordinary odyssey through the Australian Outback.

Rent for £3.50

Mr. Turner Mr. Turner

Biopic 2014 150 mins Director: Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh’s Cannes-winning account of the later years of J. M. W. Turner, brilliantly played by Timothy Spall.

Subscribe to watch

Tom of Finland Tom of Finland

Biopic 2017 116 mins Director: Dome Karukoski

The story of a gay icon is brought to life in Dome Karukoski’s handsome biopic of Touko Laaksonen, the artist whose homoerotic drawings gave visual expression to a growing gay culture.

Rent for £3.50

Lovelace Lovelace

Biopic 2013 93 mins Director: Jeffrey Friedman and Robert Epstein

Porn star Linda Lovelace (Amanda Seyfried) finds herself abused by the industry and her maniacal husband– so she sets off to embrace feminism and, vitally, herself.

Rent for £3.50

Control Control

Biopic 2007 122 mins Director: Anton Corbijn

The life story of Ian Curtis, the tortured singer of Joy Division who suffered epilepsy and crippling self-doubt, filmed in stunning monochrome.

Rent for £3.50

England Is Mine England Is Mine

Biopic 2017 94 mins Director: Mark Gill

A deeply insecure young Morrissey dreams of escaping drudgery but seeks the confidence to bloom, in this captivating account of The Smiths' genesis.

Rent for £3.50

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Biopic 2017 106 mins Director: Paul McGuigan

Annette Bening and Jamie Bell bring to life the true story of the love affair between Gloria Grahame and young, Liverpudlian actor Peter Turner.

Rent for £3.50

Redoubtable Redoubtable

Biopic 2017 108 mins Director: Michel Hazanavicius

From the Oscar-winning director of The Artist, a brilliantly realised portrait of France’s maestro director Jean-Luc Godard spiralling into philosophical and romantic crisis.

Rent for £4.50

If Beale Street Could Talk If Beale Street Could Talk

Crime 2018 119 mins Director: Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins follows his Oscar®-winning Moonlight with an audacious, distinctive and assured adaptation of James Baldwin’s account of love, injustice and racism in America.